Buckner Seeks Adoptive Family for Special-Needs Baby
Jul 19, 2010
Filed in Foster Care and Adoption, U.S. Ministry
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By Jenny Pope
Buckner International
DALLAS, Texas – Buckner Adoption and Maternity Services places dozens of children into loving families each year through domestic open adoption. But this year, there is one child who needs a family more than ever.
Seven-month-old Alan* was born with Spina bifida, a developmental birth defect where a child’s spinal cord protrudes through the vertebrae and fills with fluid. Doctors performed surgery shortly after his birth and were successful in repairing the rupture, but it has caused a number of medical difficulties for this playful and happy baby, said Leah Gilliam, Buckner adoption counselor.
“He is paralyzed from the knees down and will probably always need assistance to walk,” she said.
Gilliam said parents Alicia, 16, and Robert, 17, had made a decision to place Alan for adoption before he was born. “They’re teenagers and they knew they couldn’t provide the family he needed,” she said.
But when Alan was born with special needs and there weren’t any available adoptive families, they decided to take him home and try parenting, Gilliam explained.Â
“Within a few months they realized they were unable to provide for him the way they had hoped. We’ve been spreading the word around the state through our other foster care and adoption offices to try and find an adoptive family, but we haven’t been successful,” she said.
Buckner would like to place Alan into an adoptive family in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to support an open relationship, but Sherri, Alan’s birth grandmother and primary caregiver for the past seven months, said a family who is willing to love and nurture Alan is the most important thing.
“He deserves a family who can give him more than we’re able to,” she said.
Buckner is looking for a family who is willing to maintain an open relationship with Alan’s birth parents and capable of helping him with his special needs. For more information about this child or the adoption process, please contact Buckner Adoption and Maternity Services at 214-319-3426.
*Name changed to protect identity.
5 Comment(s)
By April & Eric Jacobi on Jul 21, 2010 | Reply
We live in CO and just read the amazing story about baby Alan. We are currently waiting for our homestudy to be completed and we were wondering if we needed to live in Texas for further information on Alan.
Blessings,
April & Eric Jacobi
By Carissa Lanning on Jul 21, 2010 | Reply
We are a military family of five who has been seeking to adopt a child with special needs. I heard of this little guy through Reece’s Rainbow yahoo group. I would LOVE to get in touch and find out more about this little guy.
We have taken PS-MAPP but because of a military move and having a baby (she is now 2, we have 3 girls!), we did not get the certificate. I am sure we could get this done quickly. We only live 5 hrs away form Dallas.
We have EXCELLENT medical insurance.
By Mai Forbus on Jul 21, 2010 | Reply
We would be interested in finding out more information on this little lovely boy. We have expertize with SN babies, he is lovely!
We just relocated to Texas from CO, we have a lot of experience with adoption, and have actively tried to adopt domestically for 3 years, our international was a success.
By Barbara Bender on Jul 22, 2010 | Reply
What a beautiful story and beautiful baby! We are praying that God would place this little boy in the family that is just right for him. If our children were not so young, I would say, “Would you consider us?!” We are close to two different families that each have a child with spina bifida, and they are wonderful children. However, it does take a special person who is committed and capable to care for them. I don’t know if it is possible due to confidentiality, but I do hope that Buckner will publish an update when a family has been found. I am sure there are many like us who are praying!!
By Robin La Vois on Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
I work with polio victims with loss of limbs and/ or general weakness it sounds similar to Alan’s situation and I utilize swimming with flotation devices to help them 1. have fun 2. also improve stamina and muscle tone, etc. Can Alan go in water in a floatie with a lot of assistance to benefit him like this? I would have to pray about taking him f/t but I’d be happy to work with him in aqua rehab, I live in Houston. He is a cutie.